"Bronson!" all exclaimed in a breath.
"Great Scott!" cried Jimmy in amazement, "what are you fellows doing here and what's the matter with Bronson?"
Bronson, who had fainted from fright when he heard Frank's yell in the darkness, now opened his eyes and sat up, looking around dazedly. Suddenly he seemed to remember: "Don't leave me! Don't leave me!" he cried piteously, grabbing Jimmy by the legs. "I'll tell all about it, but don't leave me here. He'll come back."
"Tell us what? Who'll come back?" ejaculated Jimmy.
And there on the floor Bronson poured out his story in broken sentences and with hanging head. He told how the Gamma had planned the kidnapping of Frank to break up the meeting, with the hope that the attempt to form a new society might be checked and the absent boy discredited. The attempt, as it proved, had been partly successful, for, despite the eloquent words of the Codfish and David, who had striven to hold it together until Frank could be found, the Gamma element in the meeting had broken it up. It was on Jimmy's return to the room that he had heard Frank's signal and gone in search of him.
"Was Dixon in this scheme?" said Frank, when Bronson finished.
"Yes," was the answer.
"And was he responsible for the affair in the bell tower?"